An ecological undertaking in Serengeti National Park (SENAPA) has removed
17,536 snares from the 14,750 square kilometre park.

The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)
and Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) jointly executed
Serengeti De-Snaring Programme, which has as well rescued 157 wild animals
from the traps laid by poachers within the ecosystem.

The snares have since been set ablaze, according to FZS Programme Leader in
Serengeti Erik Winberg. Mr Winberg, updating tour operators and key
stakeholders in the industry on Monday, said poachers in the Serengeti had
killed hundreds of animals, adding that the joint programme seeks to
support particularly tour operators who rely on wildlife and intact
ecosystem as the basis of tourism in the area.

“At least 530 animals were killed by poachers in the past 16 months while
we also established 125 camps that were put up by poachers,” explained the
FZS official.

According to Mr Winberg, the project also helped in the arrest of 32
poachers who were found in the area.

Describing the joint operation, Winberg said the 16-man anti-snaring team
is led by retired TANAPA rangers and other community members from villages
surrounding the Serengeti, making use of ex-poachers and exploiting their
experience to fight snaring.

“The teams cooperate closely with SENAPA authority and go out to the field
to collect snares before destroying them,” he said, adding: “When the
de-snaring teams find a poacher?s den, they destroy the bush meat and other
snaring materials to deter poaching activities.”

He added that the snares laid by the poachers target species like
wildebeests for bush meat which is later sold. The wildebeest is the most
snared animal due to their large number and predictability of annual
migration, he said.

Elephants and rhinos are also not spared in the scourge as they suffer
amputations because of picking up wire snares.

Detailing how the programme works, Winberg said 5,000 US dollars (about
12m/-) cover the cost of running one team for a month, with an average of
35 snares collected daily. The programme’s funding comes from voluntary
donations based on a bed night fee for hoteliers and camp operators
operating in the Serengeti.

Winberg called for public private partnership to keep project up and
running. SENAPA Chief Park Warden William Mwakilema commended FZS for its
efforts in protecting and conserving the park, saying poaching and other
related activities could soon become a thing of the past if the efforts are
sustained.

Poaching remains a major challenge to conservation in Tanzania, with
between 20,000 and 30,000 African elephants slayed annually for their
tusks, primarily to satisfy the demand for ivory products in Asia.